Martin County - Wednesday February 15, 2023: Brightline will wrap up its latest round of high speed testing in Martin County on Thursday, February 16 after which they'll start testing trains at high speeds up to 110 miles-per-hour in northern Palm Beach County as soon as Friday, February 17. The testing in Palm Beach County will continue through the rest of this month, according to the latest news release from the passenger rail carrier.
The high-speed testing in Palm Beach County will take place from Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, North Palm Beach, Lake Park, Riviera Beach to West Palm Beach and will occur daily between 7AM and 7PM.
Flaggers will be present at railroad crossings when there is active testing taking place in the area. And there will be an increased law enforcement presence around railroad crossings.
The testing will continue in phases along the 129-mile rail corridor between West Palm Beach and Cocoa in preparation for opening rail service all the way to the Orlando International Airport last this year. No date for that service to start has been announced yet.
Residents should be alert and follow the law around active railroad tracks and railroad crossings. Testing is expected to bring additional wait times at railroad crossings.
Earlier this month, two people were killed in Delray Beach after their SUV was struck by a Brightline train. The vehicle had gone around the barrier and onto the track when it was struck. The National Transportation Safety Board is conducting an investigation.
Brightline did not respond to a request for comment from WQCS.
In its news releases Brightline says they are making safety improvements at all 156 railroad crossings along the corridor and "all safety improvements have been installed at crossings in the testing areas." The improvements vary by crossing, but may include new crossing gates, signal systems, pedestrian gates, pavement markings and roadway profiles.
Where trains will operate at speeds over 79 mph, crossings have quad gates or medians to prevent motorists from driving around lowered crossing gates.
PALM BEACH COUNTY – Railroad Crossings
Flaggers will be present at the following railroad crossings when there is ACTIVE testing taking place in the area:
● Frederick Small Rd.
● Donald Ross Rd.
● Hood Rd.
● Kyoto Gardens Dr.
● RCA Blvd.
● Burns Rd.
● Lighthouse Dr.
● Richard Rd.
● North Lake Blvd. (SR 809)
● Park Ave.
● Silver Beach Rd.
● Blue Heron Blvd. (SR 708)
● Flagler St. (West 13th St.)
● Inlet Blvd./MLK Jr. Blvd. (SR 710)
● 49th St.
● 45th St. (CR 702)
● 36th St.
● 30th St.
● 25th St.
● 23rd St.
● 15th St.
Important Safety Reminders:
● Residents should be alert and follow the law around active railroad tracks and railroad crossings.
● Drivers, pedestrians and cyclists should be aware that rail traffic will run on BOTH tracks in BOTH directions.
● Stay off the tracks and never go around crossing gates.
● Only cross the railroad at designated crossings.
● Never stop on the tracks.
● Failure to follow the law could result in fines, points on your license or loss of life.